On more than one occasion we’ve heard Ray Lewis speak of “sacrifice,” whether for his team or an even higher power. His words ring heavy in our ears while contemplating another sacrifice - the time it will take to watch Tuesday’s Super Bowl Medi

How Muhammad Ali brought ‘What’s my name?’ to the Baltimore Ravens

NEW ORLEANS -- Last September, the Baltimore Ravens received a surprise visitor to their facility in the person of Muhammad Ali, whose specific inspiration to the team was recalled that day by Jack Harbaugh, father of Ravens head coach John and San Fran…

Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, who grew up in New Jersey, went to school at Pittsburgh and Delaware and plays now in Baltimore - none of which are remotely tropical in the winter time - is not a big fan of next year’s cold-weather New York Super Bow

Wearing a dark suit and a purple striped tie, an outfit that he said his wife picked out, Ravens coach John Harbaugh met the media for the first time here and set the tone for his team ahead of Sunday's game against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl…

Greetings from the Big Easy

The first thing you need to know about the Big Easy is that it was a lot easier to get here than the last time I visited New Orleans. Got a cheap flight into Jackson, Miss., and the difference in fare for driving a couple of hours paid for the rental ca…

In Baltimore and beyond, Super Bowl is cause for big-screen treatment

Super Bowl season typically is a busy time for television sales, but in the Baltimore area, some stores have seen an extra boost as fans get ready for game day parties on Feb. 3, when the Ravens face the 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII.

Ayanbadejo, Boldin, Dixon, Ihedigbo and Lewis have all participated in NFL's biggest gameOf the 53 players on the Ravens' active roster, only four have been to a Super Bowl. And only one was there last year.

Help! Get! This! Ravens! Cheerleader! To! The! Super! Bowl!

The first thing you'll notice about this petition is that it contains a great deal of exclamation points. Why are there so many exclamation points? Who knows. Maybe it's a rhetorical strategy that we aren't familiar with, or perhaps the cheerleader who …

Some random thoughts as the Ravens near touch down in New Orleans

The Ravens are scheduled to land here this afternoon. By watching the footage of the San Francisco 49ers’ arrival last night and then by attending their news conferences, I was a little surprised how nonchalant and business-like they were. It fits coach

How Two Newspapers Wound Up Staging The Same Sob Story About The Ray Lewis Murder Case

Richard Lollar was one of two men killed in the 2000 Super Bowl week stabbing outside an Atlanta nightclub that led to Ray Lewis's pleading guilty to obstruction of justice. For 13 years Lollar has been buried in his hometown of Akron, and in those 13 y…

While the Ravens and 49ers are getting ready for a Super Bowl, Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh was on the set of "Celebrity Diving" saving comedian Louie Armstrong from drowning. Apparently, these are the types of stories happen when a NF…

NEW ORLEANS -- The Super Bowl pairing of San Francisco and Baltimore holds little surprise factor for Ken Whisenhunt. The newly named San Diego Chargers offensive coordinator, and former Arizona Cardinals head coach, witnessed first-hand the rise of the…

Ravens proving again you don't need a bye

NEW ORLEANS -- You hear it all the time in December: if a team finishes the regular season strong and gets a first-round bye, it increases the chances of reaching the Super Bowl. The Baltimore Ravens, as well as recent NFL history, say otherwise. If the…

Ravens who will be Media Day darlings at Super Bowl

We shared earlier that the Eagles’ search for a defensive coordinator included a couple of coaches who have a pretty big game coming up on Sunday, but they aren’t limiting their search to members of the Ravens and 49ers coaching staffs. Adam Schefter

Ravens insist this is a business trip

NEW ORLEANS -- When the Baltimore Ravens' plane lands here Monday afternoon, the coaches and players will head to a hotel where the casino is across the street and Bourbon Street is a short walk away. Ravens coach John Harbaugh as well as the team leade…

The Eagles open Super Bowl week without a defensive coordinator and it doesn’t look like they’ll hire one until after the big game. 49ers defensive backs coach Ed Donatell has been linked with the job for a while and Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia In

Coffee Companion (1/28): your daily Super Bowl fix

Every morning, Monday through Friday, blogger Matt Vensel will hook you up with reading material -- mostly on the Ravens but with some other Baltimore sports stuff, too -- to skim through as you slug down coffee and slack off at the start of your workda…

Former undrafted free agent from Georgia had 89 tackles, 4.5 sacks in regular season, interception in AFC championshipPrior to the 2009 NFL draft, Dannell Ellerbe checked his inbox. He had an important email to read.

Ed Reed could be targeted by the Patriots

Last week on PFT Live, a former hard-hitting safety from the Patriots (Rodney Harrison) said that one of the things the Patriots need is a hard-hitting safety. Enter Ed Reed? Peter King of SI.com said during Sunday night’s Pro Bowl pregame on NBC that t

Ravens say they'll 'compartmentalize' to handle distractions in New Orleans

AFC champions travel to the Big Easy today for Super Bowl; winning the big game, not hanging out on Bourbon Street, tops agendaThe party atmosphere of the French Quarter will beckon many this week at the Super Bowl in New Orleans.

Each day this week, Baltimore Sun reporter and blogger Matt Vensel will break down a key matchup from Sunday’s Super Bowl. Today, he looks at the challenge of defending Colin Kaepernick and the pistol offense.

Ravens' O.J. Brigance brings a different power to second Super Bowl journey

Team executive delivering strength to players, staffHe was a mighty presence when the Baltimore Ravens won Super Bowl XXXV, a warrior who busted a wedge to make the first tackle that day and went on to make four more. If current coach John Harbaugh is t…

NFL32OT: Pollard Questions Longevity Of NFL

Jan 28

Episode 257: Suzy Kolber and Chris Mortensen discuss Ravens Bernard Pollard's comments on the lastingness of the NFL. 49ers Tarell Brown discusses Jim Harbaugh and being on the road. The NFL32 crew breaks down Jim Harbaugh's decision to take a day of

Super Bowl Preview: Ed Reed And Player Safety

Ian Rapoport discusses the contract situation of Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco and the kind of offer that would keep him in purple and black.

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Baltimore Ravens Ray Lewis living in moment, not reflecting on week of 'lasts'

Jan 28

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis discusses his final week as an NFL player, getting his first career sack against 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh and why now is the time to retire.

Sports Columnists

Clayton's mailbag: What's next for fired GMs?

Jan 28

There are plenty of experienced GMs sitting on the sidelines, waiting to get back into the NFL. Plus, answers to reader questions.

Don Banks: Ken Whisenhunt breaks down Niners-Ravens matchup

Jan 28

NEW ORLEANS -- The Super Bowl pairing of San Francisco and Baltimore holds little surprise factor for Ken Whisenhunt. The newly named San Diego Chargers offensive coordinator, and former Arizona Cardinals head coach, witnessed first-hand the rise of the…